Hi, I know this may be a tired question ,but I'll just put it out there. I've searched the forum post & haven't found what I was looking for.I am visiting my daughter who is doing an internship in NY for the semester. She is living in the UWS and we need a restaurant suggestion for Thanksgiving day.
Also, how long are the lines at Macy's ...to see the windows?
And we are going to see the balloons get blown up for the parade..is it worth it?
If we want to watch the parade is the beginning OK?

Last time we were in NY for Thanksgiving (2007), we went to see all the windows (Macys, Lord & Taylor and Saks) at night -after 9 or 10:00 p.m. and there were no lines at all.

http://www.alouettenyc.com/Thanksgiving_Menu.html

The lines are as long as they will be when you get there.

Worth it? You decide. Beginning is fine but get there early and it will be over in an hour.

There are dozens of restaurants on the UWS. Alouette which I've never tried looks very nice. Dovetail, Compass, Nice Matin, Ouest, Telepan are some other ideas in the area but I assume you realize you can really eat anywhere you want since the subway runs 24/7. Are you looking for a particular kind of place for T'giving?

The balloon blowup has been getting very crowded as more and more people try to go. If you're in the area anyway, go and have a look and you decide whether to stay.

sf9307's advice of going to see dept. store windows at night after the stores are closed is a good one. At least then you're not also competing with people who are there to shop. Macy's windows are not necessarily the best ones and it's not really that close to other dept. stores. Lord & Taylor on 5th ave. & 38-39 st. (which is walking distance from Macy's) is usually wonderful and from there you can walk to Saks Fifth ave at 49th st. (next to St. Patrick's cathedral and across from Rockefeller Center). Bergdorf Goodman at Fifth & 58-59 is always wonderful and Barney's over on Madison Ave. is usually quite irreverent.

As for the best place to watch the parade, the beginning is ok but you'd probably get more of a "show" a bit further south toward Columbus Circle.

Lord & Taylor, Saks and Bloomies all have much better windows than Macy's. Unfortunately Thanksgiving is too early for the Rock Center tree - or I would suggest that you visit that area and St Pat's. If you do the beginning of the parade you must get there early (it starts at 9 am on TV so they want to be almost to 34th St by then) and it's typically quite rushed since they ned to get downtown on time. We sometimes do that, then rush home to see much of it on TV (the performances are at the end - if you want to see Rockettes or numbers from any of the B'way shows.)

As for Thanksgiving dinner - assume you want traditional - but what is your price point?

Thank you,Alouette does look good. I looked at the menu on the internet and it has traditional and non trad. menu choices.
Yes I know the subway runs 24/7.I was just looking for something near home base.Any other suggestions are welcome.
$60 per prix fixe seems reasonable.
We will try the other store window reco.
To bad balloon blowup has been getting crowded . We won't be very far & might just try it.Also I read somewhere we should get out of dodge and have dinner elsewhere to avoid the crowds...right?
**mclaurie "Are you looking for a particular kind of place for T'giving?" Trad. w/ a vegetarian/pescitarian option.
I will be in NY for 11/20 -11/28 so we will have time to do a few holiday related activities during that time.(When my daughters not working)I'm sure I can find some solo things to do.
Thanks for all the reply's.

http://www.compassrestaurant.com/tha...-menu-1073.php

Landmarc in the Time Warner building at Columbus Circle will be serving their regular menu plus some turkey specials for the day.
http://www.landmarc-restaurant.com/m...nner&menu_id=4

Thank you.
Both look interesting.

" If you do the beginning of the parade you must get there early (it starts at 9 am on TV so they want to be almost to 34th St by then)"

This statement is a bit incorrect.

The parade sets off from its beginning point near 79th St at 9 AM. The parade broadcast begins at 9AM, but the first hour is full of performances in front of Macy's by Broadway stars, the Rockettes, and the like, interspersed with remote reports along the parade route. ("Look! Snoopy just arrived at Columbus Circle!") The beginning of the parade reaches Macy's (the end of the route) at 10AM. (My sister has marched in the parade for the past 5 years, so I'm clear on the timing since we must plan our Thanksgiving around her schedule.)

In my experience of viewing the parade in recent years, we stood on Central Park West a block or two south of 72nd St. When we arrived just after 7AM, the streets were lined with viewers with a few gaps here and there so one could still get a spot in front. By 7:45AM, the crowds were 5 deep all along Central Park West, with more arriving minute by minute. To me, this means you must be in place at least 90 minutes before the parade begins to get an unobstructed spot. Arrive just an hour before and be prepared to stand at the back of the crowd.

Thank you ellenem.
Central Park West a block or two south of 72nd St is around where we are planning to stand.7AM it looks like it should be! I'll kick my daughter in the butt and get them up that early.I doubt we'll be back in NY for Thanksgiving again, so we can't miss this opportunity to see the parade first hand. My girls are 21 & 23 and they still call it the "Macy's Day Parade".

You'll be in NYC before CANstruction closes. Go to the Winter Garden to see CANstruction early in your visit.

http://thestarryeye.typepad.com/expl...1111-1122.html

Thank you.Maybe I'll do this on one of the days my daughter is at work.

I am a really big fan of St. Andrews restaurant and pub just off Times Square. They have a beautiful space and great food. Thanksgiving menu just $38 per person.
http://www.standrewsnyc.com/thanksgiving.html

I had my bridal shower there and they did a lovely job. Servers and staff super friendly, comfortable environment with surprisingly good food.

Well, if you are headed down to the Times Square area I'll suggest where we had Thanksgiving dinner a couple of years ago -
http://www.westbankcafe.com/menus/thanks2010.html
They also offered a matching wine flight.
Here's the opentable page -
http://www.opentable.com/west-bank-cafe

I made reservations for 4 pm which worked out perfectly. The parade was over and the crowds were gone. We ate a nice breakfast in the morning and liked our early dinner - which gave us time to make a show that evening.

landwlkr, was your shower before or after they moved locations? IMO, the old location was better (though I agree the food is surprisingly good).

mommacl,
Have a great time. My sister and niece will be wrangling the Pillsbury Doughboy this year.

ellenem

I'll look for them!

ellenem, how cool!

This is a great guide to Thanksgiving food in the city, by one of our local blogs:
http://ny.eater.com/archives/2010/11...g_map.php#more

My sister works for Macy's, so she can volunteer to be in the parade. This happens way back in May or June. You volunteer for a specific task, but don't find out until close to the date what you get. You don't just have to be a Macy's employee, but you gain access through an employee.

For example, my sister will say when she volunteers that she is a group of 3. One year that group was herself and her two daughters. Another year it was herself, one daughter, and the daughter's friend. She is assigned to a task with others from her store that also signed up, so depending on the size of your group, your are assigned a task. She has always chosen balloon wrangler.

They must be at the check-in at the Hotel New Yorker on 34th St and 8th Ave by 5:30 in the morning. (My sister stays over at my place in Manhattan rather than travel with her store's team, since that would mean getting up at about 3:00AM.) They check in and change into their outfits, some kind of overalls and hat that matches the balloon.

From 6-7 AM, they are bussed to the beginning of the parade route, where they are organized in holding areas and receive balloon wrangling instructions from their team leader. There are verbal and hand signals to learn since the parade can be noisy. A key point is how to deal with the winds at the cross streets. The first marchers set out at 9AM, but some must wait until 10:30 or later if the balloon is near the end of the parade.

My niece recounted how they received special instructions about dealing with Columbus Circle, a very windy location. They were briefed that once they reached Columbus Circle, they would have to run the entire distance across it without stopping to avoid wind issues--easier said than done when dragging Ronald McDonald.